Poll: Few link late payments, mortgage woes
Only two in five Americans understand that if they chronically fail to pay bills on time they will have a major problem getting a home mortgage, according to a survey released Monday by mortgage giant Fannie Mae.

Late orders may overwhelm gas companies
ATLANTA -- Some glitches are likely during the final assignment of natural-gas customers who wait until the last minute to pick a marketer other than Atlanta Gas Light Co., industry experts warn.

Stamp honors early botanists
More than two centuries ago, William Bartram's carefully recorded descriptions of Augusta and the Savannah River formed one of the most detailed accounts of our region's early history.

Role defined woman's career
This is the true story of how a wish in Butterfly McQueen's will came true because of caring people connected with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in New York City.

Wicked sense of humor has kept actress in the spotlight
HOLLYWOOD -- Gosh, Betty White just can't stop apologizing. She's so sorry she had to say all of those four-letter words up there on the big screen in that Lake Placid movie she had so much fun making in British Columbia.

Soccer team makes fun a priority
The Georgia Scorchers were formed only one week before the Georgia Games and stood little chance of winning, but that wasn't the most important thing to the soccer players and coaches.

Movie swordplay inspires fencing medalist
Choreographed bouts, whether on stage or in film, are nothing like the sport of fencing. However, it was a movie that inspired an Atlanta youngster to try the sport.

Tournament hurts turnout for volleyball
Diane Sherman looked more like a woman on vacation than a competitor in the volleyball competition at the Georgia Games. She was there to have fun, sitting under a tent with her two daughters, Erin and Kate.

Local team captures unlikely win
It's a good thing the Augusta Diamondbacks didn't storm the mound and pile on Auggie Rodriguez in jubilation Sunday after the final out of the Georgia Games men's baseball championship.

Field of victory
WAYNESBORO, Ga. -- If John Whinnery was looking for a way to return to his youthful, athletic days as an all-state wrestler, track-and-field star and football player, he may have discovered it Sunday.

Bowler claims senior women's gold in first showing at Games
Slapping high-fives with her friends and hugging her teammates, Peggy Davis sits down to change her shoes before making her way to her husband, Julian. He is standing behind the bowling lane eating french fries while he watches his wife compete in the medal round for senior women.

Athletes, businesses find games success
Before Augusta's first Georgia Games Championships began Wednesday, local organizers knew their performance would be under the microscope. Judging from the early results, they performed well under the lens.

Games staff cleans up venues
On the surface things may be back to normal, but for the staff of the Georgia Games Championships on Monday was another day at work.

Games loss takes a toll on player
Don't ask Tyrone Hayes what winning a Georgia Games title would have meant to him. The look in his eyes after failing to realize that goal said it all.

Games staff cleans up venues
On the surface things may be back to normal, but for the staff of the Georgia Games Championships on Monday was another day at work.

Therapy leads paraplegic to pool
It's 8:45 on Sunday morning, and Curtis Lovejoy has the pool to himself. He isn't greeted by any competitors for this event, the 50-meter breaststroke, just seven empty lanes.

Early finish leaves rider with penalty
Tracie Kellos almost used the home court to her advantage Sunday morning. Riding in the cross country event in the Georgia Games equestrian competition, the 22-year-old Martinez resident was perfect on the course at Pine Top Farm in Thomson, Ga.

This week in South Carolina
Aiken Brass performs at 7 p.m. at Hopelands Gardens' Performing Arts Stage in the park's Summer Concert Series. People with picnic suppers are welcome at the free concerts, but alcohol is prohibited. If it rains, performances might be held at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center Gym 2 or rescheduled. For details, call (803) 642-7648.

Project will battle beach erosion on barrier island
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. -- When Karen Tippins and her children arrived at the Second Street beach entrance at about 9 a.m., they had more than 50 yards of sand from which to choose and quickly settled on a prime spot -- not too close to the water, but not too far from the seawall.

Across the area
Police investigate shootout in Aiken ... Details in shooting come out ... Investigators search for teen

Energy use to soar in heat wave
Forecasters predict today will be the summer's hottest day yet, and power company officials are preparing for possible electricity shortages caused by extensive air conditioner use.

State to regulate building runoff
ATLANTA -- State officials are imposing new permitting regulations to control erosion from construction sites across Georgia, after years of legal battles with environmental advocates.

Aiken Tech announces new president
LANGLEY -- It has been an exhausting five months for those involved in the search for a new president for Aiken Technical College, but they've found one in Susan A. Graham.

Schools report teacher shortage
SMYRNA, Ga. -- More than 100 Georgia school systems are reporting problems finding teachers in areas such as special education, math and science, according to a new state survey.

Driver kills prone pedestrian
A pedestrian lying in the middle of South Carolina Highway 39 was killed Sunday when a vehicle ran over him, bringing the death toll on Aiken County roads to 26 this year.

Runaway emu dies of heat stroke
A several-day search for a runaway emu ended in tragedy Monday afternoon when the wayward animal suddenly collapsed from heat stroke and died.

Experts watching storm season
Walter Hornsby doesn't worry too much about hurricanes. At least, not right now. ``We'll be watching things all through the year,'' said the interim director of Richmond County's Emergency Management Agency.

Energy use to soar in heat wave
Forecasters predict today will be the summer's hottest day yet, and power company officials are preparing for possible electricity shortages caused by extensive air conditioner use.

Kennedy mourned at memorial
Area residents mourning John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and her sister shared their grief at a common place Sunday afternoon.

Poker businesses making hay while they can
AIKEN -- Area video poker parlors apparently are trying to squeeze a few more days out of the jackpots that draw big business, before the state starts enforcing the law.

Defense seeks help in Hill case
AIKEN -- The capital murder trial of a man accused of killing three social workers in North Augusta in 1996 is growing so complex that the public defender's office wants to add another of its lawyers to the case, which comes up in court Sept. 13.

Canal more reliable, EPD says
State regulators offered little solace Monday night to Augusta officials concerned that the city's primary drinking water source is four miles downstream from where Columbia County releases treated sewage.

Answers pro-Norwood writer on vets
... U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., has downright stripped medical privileges from military retirees who were promised medical benefits for life after 20 years of honorable service. ...R. Ingham, Hephzibah

Answers letter writer on JFK Jr.
In response to letter writer Perry Holcomb's ``thought-provoking'' question No. 1: He answered his own question concerning the expanse of the search and recovery for John F. Kennedy Jr. and family.Susan Norvell, Augusta

The Georgia Games are a victory for all
As the first-ever presenting sponsor of the Georgia Games, this newspaper couldn't be prouder of the athletes who participated and the event organizers and thousands of volunteers who made it all possible.

Answers letter writer on JFK Jr.
In response to letter writer Perry Holcomb's ``thought-provoking'' question No. 1: He answered his own question concerning the expanse of the search and recovery for John F. Kennedy Jr. and family.Susan Norvell, Augusta

The Georgia Games are a victory for all
As the first-ever presenting sponsor of the Georgia Games, this newspaper couldn't be prouder of the athletes who participated and the event organizers and thousands of volunteers who made it all possible.

Answers pro-Norwood writer on vets
Re George Paschall's July 4 letter: ... U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., has downright stripped medical privileges from military retirees who were promised medical benefits for life after 20 years of honorable service. ...
R. Ingham, Hephzibah

Notes steps toward nation's decline
I've heard the phrase ``something is wrong in America,'' and I wholeheartedly agree. It began with the American Civil Liberties Union and other atheists putting pressure on our wimp judges and officials to take all religion out of our schools.
Tony R. Bledsoe, Augusta

Genuine American hero
While Georgians were enjoying their games in Augusta last week, one of the most remarkable sports stories of this century was unfolding in Paris: Lance Armstrong's unbelievable victory in the 1999 Tour de France, the severest test of endurance and cycling expertise known to man.

The Georgia Games are a victory for all
The big winner in last weekend's Georgia Games was the entire two-state Augusta area. The event brought the community together in a way that only sports can. Congratulations certainly are due all of the medal winners, whatever their sport, age or gender. The athletes made these Games among the most exciting ever. But to make it all happen, a cadre of community leaders and sponsors worked tirelessly to bring the event here. They were joined by some 3,600 volunteers who helped to coordinate the competition.

Answers pro-Norwood writer on vets
... U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., has downright stripped medical privileges from military retirees who were promised medical benefits for life after 20 years of honorable service. ...R. Ingham, Hephzibah

Price off to good start
Tommy Price is moving quickly and, more importantly, constructively to make his mark as Columbia County school superintendent. Though he was appointed on an interim basis last November (and the Board of Education never had its heart in a national job search), it wasn't until this spring that the Board gave the position to him permanently.

Gore gored
``How can we be one nation when we are resentful, suspicious and angry because of the perception -- sometimes real and sometimes imagined -- that some individuals are being given an unfair advantage because of their race?''

Answers letter writer on JFK Jr.
In response to letter writer Perry Holcomb's ``thought-provoking'' question No. 1: He answered his own question concerning the expanse of the search and recovery for John F. Kennedy Jr. and family.
Susan Norvell, Augusta

Intimidating churches
As a rule Democrats line up behind watchdog groups that push separation of church and state policies. But Americans United for Separation of Church and State may have gone over the edge this time.

Offers tribute to late 'Red' Douglas
Although I was unable to attend the dedication for the newly named clubhouse located at ``The Patch,'' I would be remiss if I didn't send my personal testimony on behalf of the character of Lawson ``Red'' Douglas and why it is only appropriate they name the golf clubhouse after such a fine gentleman.
Gregory A. McCord, Augusta

Fearless tax cutting
The U.S. House's largely party-line vote Thursday to slash taxes a whopping $792 billion over 10 years shows that, going into the 2000 campaign, the GOP is prepared to challenge the conventional wisdom that in a prosperous economy tax cuts are a non-issue to the American people.

Air quality index gets updated
NEW YORK -- Vice President Al Gore tried Saturday to breathe fresh air into the nation's 2-decade-old air quality index system, saying the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to give more detailed health warnings so vulnerable people can protect themselves.

Cold War-era hot line still in place
WASHINGTON -- Born in the Cold War, the hot line connecting the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union was instituted to defuse hostilities and misunderstandings that, in those tense days, could have led to nuclear war.

Racing game's a mediocre addition to PlayStation
Motor racing is one of the most dramatic and spectacular sports going, and Formula One is racing's premier series.
So how, exactly, do you turn this exciting explosion of noise and human achievement into a dulled-down, ``just OK'' game?

Survey: San Jose is hotbed of high-tech Industry
Not surprisingly, the Silicon Valley capital of San Jose, Calif., finished first in a new survey of the areas most important to the U.S. tech industry by the Milken Institute, a Los Angeles economic think tank created by junk-bond maven Michael Milken.

AOL to Microsoft: Kill the messenger
SEATTLE -- The latest battle between Microsoft Corp. and America Online is shaping up over software allowing instantaneous message exchanges. And there's a twist: This time it's Microsoft that's pushing for an industry standard while AOL is trying to maintain its proprietary dominance.

Report: Gas additive can be harmful
WASHINGTON -- In a major reversal in environmental policy, a government advisory panel on Tuesday will urge widespread reduction in the use of a controversial gasoline additive once touted as key to reducing air pollution from automobiles.

Rivals team up to squish Y2K bug
While Delta Air Lines and its competitors spend their summer dueling over discount fares and fighting for frequent fliers, they also are teaming up to take on a common enemy -- the Y2K bug.

Xtreme advice: Friendships often suffer when romance blossoms
``My friend started going out with this boy a couple of months ago. I don't think he's right for her because he's known for cheating. And she's also been ignoring me since they started going out. What should I do?'' -- 13-year-old girl, Harlem